Richland Attorney Eugene G. Schuster to Receive Washington State Bar Association Local Hero Award

Seattle Washington, October 20, 2004 — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) announces that Richland attorney Eugene G. Schuster has been chosen to receive the Local Hero Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community and the profession of law, particularly his service as chair of the Benton-Franklin County Legal Aid Society (BFCLAS). As the Board of Governors meets in communities around the state, the WSBA recognizes local lawyers who have made extraordinary contributions to those communities. On October 22 and 23, the Board will be meeting in Richland, and WSBA President Ronald Ward will present the award to Mr. Schuster October 22 at a luncheon with the BFCLAS at the Hampton Inn.

Mr. Schuster received a B.A. in 1961 and an LL.B. in 1964, both from Gonzaga University. In 1967 he joined the Richland law firm of Critchlow, Williams & Schuster; he became partner in 1972 and managing partner in 1980. The firm practices in the areas of labor law, personal injury law, workmen's compensation, Social Security disability, and criminal law. The bulk of Mr. Schuster's professional experience is in preparation for and trial of cases. Mr. Schuster is a member and past president of the Benton-Franklin County Bar Association; and a member of the American Bar Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Washington State Bar Association, and the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association.

"For over 20 years, Eugene has been instrumental in providing legal services to people without adequate funding to pursue civil legal claims," said Timothy Mahoney, vice-president of the BFCLAS, "and for the past 10 years he has spearheaded the annual Trial and Appellate Practice Section seminar for local attorneys, which has raised substantial funds to help legal services projects. Without Eugene's contributions, legal services in the Tri-Cities would not be where they are today."

About the WSBA
The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington State Supreme Court to license the state's 28,400 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association—all without public funding.

As a regulatory agency, it administers the bar exam, provides record-keeping and licensing functions, and administers the lawyer discipline program. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, and numerous other educational and member-service activities.

The governance of the WSBA is vested in its 14-person Board of Governors. There are three governors from the seventh congressional district; one from each of the other eight districts; and three at-large members, one of whom represents the Young Lawyers Division. The president is Ronald R. Ward of Seattle. The board meets every six weeks at various locations around the state, and its meetings are open to the public. Much of the work of the WSBA is carried out through its 23 standing committees, 23 sections, and a Young Lawyers Division.

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